Is a prophet someone standing on a street corner shouting the end of the earth is coming soon? Or is it someone who predicts the future that predicts scary events?

As we can see, Ezekiel is God’s prophet. He speaks on behalf of God and he tells the truth so we can see when we need to restore our relationship with God. Sometimes the prophet brings news from God that is comforting. As in the case of today’s text the Israelites were experiencing hard times and God’s message was to give them hope for better times in the future.

As we know from the other prophets, the words spoken also usually can be applied to our lives today. Our DW explains; “Through this prophet of so long ago, God has a new word to speak to us: God has turned toward us to hear our needs and is at work for our well-being.”

Prayer: “God, speak hope into our world today. Amen.

Ezekiel 36:8-15

8 But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot out your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they shall soon come home. 9 See now, I am for you; I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown; 10 and I will multiply your population, the whole house of Israel, all of it; the towns shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt; 11 and I will multiply human beings and animals upon you. They shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. 12 I will lead people upon you—my people Israel—and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance. No longer shall you bereave them of children.

13 Thus says the Lord God: Because they say to you, “You devour people, and you bereave your nation of children,” 14 therefore you shall no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, says the Lord God; 15 and no longer will I let you hear the insults of the nations, no longer shall you bear the disgrace of the peoples; and no longer shall you cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord God.